UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

SCHEDULE 14A

Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

(Amendment No.     )

Filed by the Registrant  ☒                             Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  ☐

Check the appropriate box:

COLONY CREDIT REAL ESTATE, INC.

(Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)

N/A

(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):

2020 Notice of Annual Meeting of

Stockholders and Proxy Statement

To the Stockholders of Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc.:

It is our pleasure to invite you to the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”). The annual meeting will be held at 590 Madison Avenue, Floor 34, New York, New York 10022, Broadway Conference Room, on Monday, May 4, 2020, beginning at 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time.

We intend to hold our annual meeting in person, but are sensitive to the public health and travel concerns our stockholders may have and the protocols that federal, state and local governments may impose regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. If the Board of Directors of the Company decides that it is not possible or advisable to hold our annual meeting in person, we will announce the alternative meeting arrangements as promptly as practical through a press release, Form 8-K filing and disclosure on our investor relations website. These alternate arrangements may include holding the meeting by means of a virtual-only meeting or adding a webcast component to our in-person meeting. You are encouraged to monitor our investor relations website at http://ir.clncredit.com for updated information about the annual meeting.

The enclosed materials include a notice of meeting, proxy statement, proxy card, self-addressed pre-paid envelope and Annual Report to Stockholders for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

Details of the business expected to come before the annual meeting are provided in the enclosed Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders and proxy materials.

Your vote is important. Whether or not you intend to be present at the meeting, it is important that your shares be represented. Please authorize a proxy to vote your shares as soon as possible. You may authorize a proxy to vote your shares by mail, telephone or Internet. The proxy materials provide you with details on how to authorize a proxy by these methods. If you determine to mail us your proxy, please complete, date and sign the proxy card and return it promptly in the envelope provided, which requires no postage if mailed in the United States. If you are the record holder of your shares and you attend the annual meeting, you may withdraw your proxy and vote in person, if you so choose. Attendance alone will not revoke a previously authorized proxy.

We look forward to receiving your proxy and seeing you at the meeting.

Sincerely,

April 1, 2020

New York, New York

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING

OF STOCKHOLDERS

Monday, May 4, 2020

8:30 a.m., Eastern Time

To be held at: 590 Madison Avenue, Floor 34, New York, New York 10022, Broadway Conference Room

TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF COLONY CREDIT REAL ESTATE, INC.:

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the 2020 Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc., a Maryland corporation, or the Company, will be held on Monday, May 4, 2020, at the above time and address to consider and vote upon the following proposals:

The Company intends to hold the annual meeting in person, but is sensitive to the public health and travel concerns its stockholders may have and the protocols that federal, state and local governments may impose regarding the COVID-19 outbreak. If the Board of Directors of the Company decides that it is not possible or advisable to hold the annual meeting in person, the Company will announce the alternative meeting arrangements as promptly as practical through a press release, Form 8-K filing and disclosure on the Company’s investor relations website. These alternate arrangements may include holding the meeting by means of a virtual-only meeting or adding a webcast component to the in-person meeting. You are encouraged to monitor the Company’s investor relations website at http://ir.clncredit.com for updated information about the annual meeting

RECORD DATE

You can vote if you are a stockholder of record at the close of business on March 24, 2020.

PROXY VOTING

Stockholders as of the Record Date are invited to attend the 2020 annual meeting. Whether or not you plan to attend the annual meeting in person, please authorize a proxy to vote your shares as soon as possible. If you are the record holder of your shares and you attend the annual meeting, you may withdraw your proxy and vote in person, if you so choose. Attendance alone will not revoke a previously authorized proxy.

By Order of the Board of Directors,

DAVID A. PALAMÉ

General Counsel and Secretary

April 1, 2020

New York, New York

Important Notice Regarding the Availability of Proxy Materials for the Stockholder Meeting to be Held on

Monday, May 4, 2020.

This proxy statement and our 2019 Annual Report are available at:

http://ir.clncredit.com/events-and-presentations/events or

http://www.astproxyportal.com/ast/CLNC

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Proxy Summary

PROXY SUMMARY

This summary highlights information contained elsewhere in this Proxy Statement. This summary does not contain all of the information that you should consider. You should read the entire Proxy Statement carefully before voting. References in this Proxy Statement to the “Company,” “we,” “our” or “us” mean Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc., a Maryland corporation. References to our “Manager” refer to CLNC Manager, LLC, a subsidiary of Colony Capital, Inc., a Maryland corporation.

2019 ANNUAL MEETING

PROPOSALS AND BOARD RECOMMENDATIONS

Stockholders will also consider and vote upon any other matter that properly comes before the Annual Meeting or any postponement or adjournment thereof.

BOARD NOMINEES

The following table summarizes information about the seven candidates who have been nominated by our Board of Directors (our “Board”) for election to our Board at the Annual Meeting. In 2019, our Board met on 15 occasions. All current directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of our Board and of all committees on which they served during fiscal year 2019.

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Proxy Summary

HOW TO CAST YOUR VOTE OR AUTHORIZE A PROXY

We have provided four different methods for you to vote or authorize a proxy to vote your shares. Please see “About the Meeting (FAQs)” beginning on the next page for further information.

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About the Meeting (FAQs)

ABOUT THE MEETING (FAQs)

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ABOUT THE 2020 ANNUAL MEETING AND VOTING

Why am I receiving this proxy statement?

This proxy statement contains information related to the solicitation of proxies for use at our Annual Meeting, to be held at 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time, on Monday, May 4, 2020 at 590 Madison Avenue, Floor 34, New York, New York 10022, Broadway Conference Room, for the purposes stated in the accompanying Notice of Annual Meeting of Stockholders. This solicitation is made by Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc. on behalf of our Board. This Proxy Statement, the enclosed proxy card and our 2019 annual report to stockholders (“Annual Report”) are first being mailed to stockholders on or about April 1, 2020. You are encouraged to monitor our investor relations website at http://ir.clncredit.com for updated information about the Annual Meeting.

Who is entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting?

Only holders of record of our common stock at the close of business on March 24, 2020, the Record Date for the Annual Meeting, are entitled to receive notice of the Annual Meeting and to vote at the meeting. Our common stock constitutes the only class of securities entitled to vote at the meeting.

What are the voting rights of stockholders?

Holders of our common stock vote together on all proposals for consideration at the Annual Meeting. Each holder of our common stock outstanding on the Record Date is entitled to one vote per share on each proposal to be voted on.

Who can attend the Annual Meeting?

All holders of our common stock at the close of business on March 24, 2020, the Record Date for the Annual Meeting, or their duly appointed proxies, are authorized to attend the Annual Meeting. If you attend the meeting, you may be asked to present valid picture identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, before being admitted. Cameras, recording devices and other electronic devices will not be permitted at the meeting.

Please also note that if you hold your shares in “street name” (that is, your shares are held through a bank, broker, trustee or other nominee), you will need to bring a copy of a recent bank or brokerage statement evidencing your ownership of our common stock as of the Record Date.

What will constitute a quorum at the Annual Meeting?

The presence at the meeting, in person or by proxy, of holders of our common stock entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting will constitute a quorum. We will include abstentions and broker non-votes in the calculation of the number of votes considered to be present and entitled to vote at the meeting for purposes of determining whether a quorum exists. Under applicable New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) rules (the exchange on which shares of our common stock are traded), brokers holding shares of our common stock for beneficial owners in nominee or “street name” must vote those shares according to the specific instructions they receive from the beneficial owners. However, brokers or nominees holding shares for a beneficial owner who do not receive voting instructions from the beneficial owner may not under the NYSE’s rules have discretionary voting power on non-routine matters. In these cases, if no specific voting instructions are provided by the beneficial owner, the broker may not vote on non-routine proposals. This results in what is known as a “broker non-vote.”

Broker non-votes may arise in the context of voting for the election of directors and on the advisory vote regarding “say-on-pay” described in this proxy statement, because such proposals are considered non-routine matters. Unless specific voting instructions are provided by the beneficial owner, the broker will be unable to vote for the election of directors and on the “say-on-pay” proposal. Accordingly, we urge stockholders who hold their shares through a broker or other nominee to provide voting instructions so that your shares of common stock may be voted on these proposals.

The ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020 is a matter considered routine under applicable NYSE rules. A broker or other nominee may generally vote on routine matters and, therefore, no broker non-votes are expected to exist in connection with this proposal.

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About the Meeting (FAQs)

As of the Record Date, there were 128,366,427 shares of our common stock outstanding.

How do I vote shares that are held in my name?

If your shares of common stock are registered directly in your name with our transfer agent, American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, you may vote by any of the following means:

How do I vote my shares that are held by my broker?

If your shares are held by a bank, broker, trustee or other nominee, you should follow the instructions provided to you by the bank or broker. Although most banks and brokers offer voting by mail, telephone and on the Internet, availability and specific procedures will depend on their voting arrangements and will be included in the voter instruction form.

How are votes counted?

Proxies submitted properly by one of the methods discussed above and not subsequently revoked, will be voted as directed by you. If your properly signed proxy does not provide specific voting instructions, the persons designated as proxy holders on the proxy card will vote (1) “FOR” each nominee for director, (2) “FOR” the advisory approval of the resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2019, (3) “FOR” the ratification of the appointment of EY as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020, and (4) as recommended by our Board with regard to any other matters that may properly come before the meeting, or, if no such recommendation is given, in such proxy holder’s own discretion.

May I revoke my vote after I return my proxy card?

Yes. You may revoke a previously granted proxy at any time before it is exercised by (i) filing with David A. Palamé, our General Counsel and Secretary, a notice of revocation or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date or (ii) attending the meeting and voting in person. Attendance at the meeting alone will not act to revoke a prior proxy. Notices of revocation or later dated proxies should be sent to the following address: David A. Palamé, General Counsel and Secretary, Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc., 590 Madison Ave., 34^th Floor, New York, New York 10022.

Who pays the costs of soliciting proxies?

We will pay the costs of soliciting proxies. In addition to soliciting proxies by mail, our officers, directors and other employees, without additional compensation, may solicit proxies personally or by other appropriate means. It is anticipated that banks, brokers, fiduciaries, custodians and nominees will forward proxy soliciting materials to their principals, and that we will reimburse such persons’ out-of-pocket expenses. We have retained D.F. King & Co., Inc. at an aggregate estimated cost of $10,000, plus out-of-pocket expenses, to assist in the solicitation of proxies.

How many votes are required to approve the proposals?

The affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast for and against such nominee at a meeting duly called and at which a quorum is present is required for the election of a director, unless there is a contested election, in which case directors shall be elected by a plurality of votes cast at a meeting. For purposes of the foregoing, a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares that are cast and are voted “for” the election of a director must exceed the number of shares that are cast and are voted “against” the election of a director. In any uncontested election of a director, any incumbent director who does not receive a majority of the votes cast with respect to the election of such director shall tender his or her resignation within three (3) days after certification of the results, in accordance with the Company’s written corporate governance guidelines. For purposes of the election of directors, pursuant to our organizational documents and Maryland state law, abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote, although they will be considered present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.

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About the Meeting (FAQs)

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting is required for approval of the advisory “say on pay” resolution regarding the compensation of our named executive officers. For purposes of the foregoing, a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares that are cast and are voted “for” the resolution must exceed the number of shares that are cast and are voted “against” the resolution. For purposes of the vote on this proposal, pursuant to our organizational documents and Maryland state law, abstentions and broker non-votes, if any, will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote, although they will be considered present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting is required for approval of the ratification of the appointment of EY as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. For purposes of the foregoing, a majority of the votes cast means that the number of shares that are cast and are voted “for” the resolution must exceed the number of shares that are cast and are voted “against” the resolution. For purposes of the vote on this proposal, pursuant to our organizational documents and Maryland state law, abstentions will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote, although they will be considered present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum.

What are the Board’s recommendations?

The Board’s recommendations are set forth together with the description of each item in this proxy statement. In summary, the Board recommends a vote:

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Company Overview

COMPANY OVERVIEW

OUR BUSINESS

Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc. is a commercial real estate (“CRE”) credit real estate investment trust (“REIT”) focused on originating, acquiring, financing and managing a diversified portfolio consisting primarily of CRE senior mortgage loans, mezzanine loans, preferred equity, debt securities and net leased properties predominantly in the United States. The Company is focused on consistently providing attractive risk-adjusted returns to our stockholders primarily through cash distributions and the preservation of invested capital, and secondarily through capital appreciation. For additional information regarding the Company and its management and business, please refer to www.clncredit.com.

The Company conducts all of its activities and holds substantially all of its assets and liabilities through Credit RE Operating Company, LLC (the “Operating Partnership”), a Delaware limited liability company. As of December 31, 2019, the Company owned 97.7% of the Operating Partnership, as its sole managing member. The remaining 2.3% is owned by an affiliate of the Company as non-controlling interests.

The Company elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), beginning with its taxable year ended December 31, 2018. We are organized and conduct our operations to qualify as a REIT and generally are not subject to U.S. federal income taxes on our taxable income to the extent that we annually distribute all of our taxable income to stockholders and maintain qualification as a REIT (although we are subject to U.S. federal income tax on income earned through our taxable subsidiaries). We also operate our business in a manner that will permit us to maintain our exemption from registration as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

The Company is externally managed by CLNC Manager, LLC (the “Manager”), a subsidiary of Colony Capital, Inc. (“Colony Capital”), a NYSE-listed global real estate and investment management firm. The real estate credit markets continually evolve, and the Company believes it is positioned to invest across the real estate capital structure and in a variety of market conditions and economic cycles.

Our principal executive offices are located at 515 S. Flower St., 44th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071. Our telephone number is 1-310-282-8820, and our website address is www.clncredit.com.

OUR INVESTMENT STRATEGY

Our objective is to generate consistent and attractive risk-adjusted returns to our stockholders. We seek to achieve this objective primarily through cash distributions and the preservation of invested capital and secondarily through capital appreciation. We believe our diversified investment strategy across the CRE capital stack provides flexibility through economic cycles to achieve attractive risk-adjusted returns. This approach is driven by a disciplined investment strategy, focused on:

The period for which we intend to hold our investments will vary depending on the type of asset, interest rates, investment performance, micro and macro real estate environment, capital markets and credit availability, among other factors. We generally expect to hold debt investments until the stated maturity and equity investments in accordance with each investment’s proposed business plan. We may sell all or a partial ownership interest in an investment before the end of the expected holding period if we believe that market conditions have maximized its value to us or the sale of the asset would otherwise be in the best interests of our stockholders.

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Company Overview

During the third quarter of 2019, the Company completed a comprehensive portfolio bifurcation plan, managing its business operations in two key portfolios, a Core Portfolio and Legacy, Non-Strategic Portfolio. The Core Portfolio consists of senior and mezzanine loans and preferred equity investments, commercial real estate (“CRE”) debt securities and net leased real estate assets, which together have been the Company’s target assets since inception. The Legacy, Non-Strategic Portfolio consists of direct investments in operating real estate such as multi-tenant office and multifamily residential assets, real estate acquired in settlement of loans, real estate private equity interests and certain retail and other legacy loans originated prior to the combination that created the Company on January 31, 2018. As part of this plan, investment-level business plans were amended to accelerate legacy, non-strategic portfolio dispositions to redeploy available proceeds into the Company’s Core Portfolio to focus on core business growth.

The Company notes the following portfolio management efforts since the third quarter of 2019:

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE AND HIGHLIGHTS

The Company adopted and maintains the following corporate governance features. The Board and management believe that having these additional stockholder-focused corporate governance elements has the opportunity to enhance the Company’s business and value to stockholders.

1.            Majority Independent Directors with Extensive Real Estate and Board Governance Experience. Our Board includes seven directors, four of which are independent, who are each highly respected and recognized leaders in commercial real estate and related industries. All of our NYSE-required Board committees consist solely of independent directors.

2.            Lead Independent Director. The Company’s Board maintains a Lead Independent Director, to promote the independence of the Board, oversight of management and to facilitate open discussion and communication among the independent directors and management.

3.            No Classified Board. All of the Company’s directors stand for election annually.

3.            Majority Voting Standard for Election of Directors. In uncontested elections, our Board will be elected by majority vote, with incumbent directors who are not re-elected being required to submit a resignation. A plurality voting standard will apply to contested elections.

4.            Anti-Hedging and Anti-Pledging Policy. The Company adopted a robust policy on inside information and insider trading, to which all “covered persons” (as defined therein), including all directors and executive officers of the Company, are subject. In part, this policy strictly prohibits, at all times, the trading in call or put options involving the Company’s securities and other derivative securities; engaging in short sales of the Company’s securities; holding the Company’s securities in a margin account; all other hedging or monetization transactions related to the Company’s securities; and, except in limited circumstances, pledging the Company’s stock to secure margin or other loans.

5.            Board Leadership. The roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are separate.

6.            Independent Director Meetings. Independent Directors meet regularly in executive session (separate from management).

7.            Outside Advisor Guidance. The Board and each committee have express authority to retain outside advisors.

8.            Compensation Review. Independent directors conduct an annual review of the CEO, Manager and Company performance.

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Company Overview

STOCKHOLDER ENGAGEMENT

We value our stockholders’ perspectives on our business and interact with stockholders through numerous engagement activities. These engagement activities, and the perspectives we learn, are informative and helpful to us in our ongoing efforts managing the business. The portfolio bifurcation plan and enhanced portfolio, asset-by-asset and risk ranking disclosures in our publicly filed periodic reports are two examples of efforts influenced by stockholder communications and provide a better perspective on the strategic direction and performance of the business.

Our Investor Relations department is the contact point for stockholder interaction with the Company. For questions concerning Investor Relations, please call +1-310-829-5400 or e-mail us from the Contact Us/Email Alerts page of the “Shareholders” section available on our website at www.clncredit.com.

You should rely only on the information provided in this Proxy Statement. We have not authorized anyone to provide you with different or additional information. You should not assume that the information in this Proxy Statement is accurate as of any date other than the date of this Proxy Statement or, where information relates to another date set forth in this Proxy Statement, then as of that date.

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Proposal No. 1: Election of Directors

PROPOSAL NO. 1: Election Of Directors

Our Board currently consists of seven members. Based on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, our Board has unanimously recommended that the following seven persons be elected to serve on our Board, each until the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified: Catherine D. Rice, Vernon B. Schwartz, John E. Westerfield, Winston W. Wilson, Mark M. Hedstrom, Michael J. Mazzei and Andrew E. Witt. Ms. Rice and Messrs. Schwartz, Westerfield and Wilson are current directors of the Company. Messrs. Hedstrom, Mazzei and Witt are new director nominees recommended due to their experience as executive representatives of the Company’s Manager. In connection with the nomination and recommendation by the Board of Messrs. Hedstrom, Mazzei and Witt as new director nominees, the current terms served by Messrs. Richard B. Saltzman, Darren J. Tangen and Kevin P. Traenkle will cease at the Annual Meeting and they will not continue as directors of the Company following the meeting.

Our Board has affirmatively determined that the following four director nominees are “independent” directors under the rules of the NYSE and under applicable rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”): Catherine D. Rice, Vernon B. Schwartz, John E. Westerfield and Winston W. Wilson.

Our Board knows of no reason why any nominee would be unable to serve as a director. If any nominee is unavailable for election or service, the Board may designate a substitute nominee and the persons designated as proxy holders on the proxy card will vote for the substitute nominee recommended by the Board, or the Board may, as permitted by our bylaws, decrease the size of our Board.

Vote Required and Recommendation

The affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast for and against each nominee for director at the meeting is required for the election of such nominee as a director. For the purposes of the vote on this proposal, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote, although they will be considered present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum. See “About the Meeting (FAQs) – How many votes are required to approve the proposals?” for additional information regarding the required vote for this proposal.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE NOMINEES IDENTIFIED ABOVE.

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Board of Directors

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The following sets forth certain information concerning our Board. The director nominees listed below are leaders in business as well as in the real estate and financial communities because of their intellectual acumen and analytic skills, strategic vision and their records of accomplishments. Each director nominee has been nominated to stand for re-election in part because of his or her ability and willingness to evaluate and support the implementation of our strategies. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee recommended each director nominee to serve on the Board until the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified.

The information below includes each director nominee’s name, principal occupation, business history and certain other information, including the specific experience, qualifications, attributes and skills that led our Board to conclude that each such person should serve as a director of the Company.

Catherine D. Rice. Catherine D. Rice is a director of the Company and has served as lead independent director since 2018. Ms. Rice has served as a director of Store Capital Corporation, a New York Stock Exchange publicly listed company (NYSE: STOR), since November 2017. Ms. Rice has over 30 years of experience in the real estate capital and investment markets and in the management and operation of public and private real estate companies.

From June 2015 to February 2016, Ms. Rice was Senior Managing Director of W.P. Carey Inc. (“W.P. Carey”), a New York Stock Exchange publicly listed company (NYSE: WPC), one of the largest public global net-lease REITs. Prior to that role, from March 2013 to June 2015, Ms. Rice was Managing Director and Chief Financial Officer of W.P. Carey. While at W.P. Carey, Ms. Rice completed a comprehensive reorganization of the finance, accounting, and IT functions as well as the development of the investor relations and capital markets areas to facilitate the company’s growth plan. She was responsible for financial strategy, public capital-raising initiatives and company-wide strategic evaluation, and was also a member of the operating and investment committees.

Prior to joining W.P. Carey, Ms. Rice was a partner and a Managing Director at Parmenter Realty Partners, a private real estate investment firm focused on distressed and value-add properties in the southern regions of the U.S. Her responsibilities included both capital raising and investing for the firm’s fourth fund. Prior to that, Ms. Rice was the Chief Financial Officer of iStar Inc. (“iStar”) (NYSE: STAR), a publicly traded finance company focused on the commercial real estate industry, where she was responsible for financial strategy and capital-raising initiatives, financial reporting and investor relations.

Ms. Rice spent the first 16 years of her career as a professional in the real estate investment banking groups of Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers and Banc of America Securities. During her career as an investment banker, she was involved in numerous capital-raising and strategic advisory transactions, including REIT IPOs, public and private debt and equity offerings, mergers and acquisitions, leveraged buyouts, and asset and corporate acquisitions and dispositions.

Ms. Rice received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Colorado and a Master of Business Administration from Columbia University.

Consideration for Ms. Rice’s Recommendation: Ms. Rice’s extensive real estate and capital markets experience, her recent leadership as a chief financial officer of real estate and finance focused publicly listed companies, as well as her current and past service on the boards of real estate investment trusts and other real estate-based organizations, highlights her value to continue serving as a director (and lead non-management director) of the Company.

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Board of Directors

Vernon B. Schwartz. Vernon B. Schwartz is a director of the Company. Mr. Schwartz was an independent director of NorthStar Real Estate Income Trust, Inc. and a member of its Audit Committee, positions he held between March 2016 and January 2018. Mr. Schwartz served as Executive Vice President at iStar from 2005 to February 2017, where he was responsible for managing a portfolio of real estate investments, including iStar’s condominium portfolio and its European assets. He has also served as President of AutoStar, iStar’s platform focused on the auto dealership market.

Mr. Schwartz has been active in real estate investment and development for almost 30 years. Previously, Mr. Schwartz was a founding partner and Chief Executive Officer of Falcon Financial, the predecessor of AutoStar before it was acquired by iStar in 2005. Prior to forming Falcon Financial, Mr. Schwartz was the Chief Executive Officer of Soros Real Estate Advisors, the advisor to Quantum Realty Partners, an offshore real estate investment fund sponsored by George Soros and Paul Reichmann. Mr. Schwartz previously served as Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Catellus Development Corporation, the largest private landowner in the state of California, and also held executive positions at both Bank of Montreal and The Hahn Company, a developer, owner and operator of regional shopping centers.

Mr. Schwartz has a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Economics and a Master of Business Administration from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Consideration for Mr. Schwartz’s Recommendation: Mr. Schwartz’s strengths include his knowledge of the real estate investment and finance industries, including his extensive experience in real estate development and portfolio management, both domestically and internationally. With prior executive experience for real estate related companies and board service for a predecessor of the Company, Mr. Schwartz is recommended to serve as an independent director of the Company.

John E. Westerfield. John E. Westerfield is a director of the Company. Mr. Westerfield serves as Chief Executive Officer of Mitsui Fudosan America, Inc. (“MFA”) and is a member of MFA’s board of directors. MFA is the U.S. subsidiary of Mitsui Fudosan Group, a publicly listed real estate company in Japan. Mr. Westerfield was appointed Chief Executive Officer of MFA in April 2015 after serving as Senior Advisor to MFA’s board of directors from 2012 to 2015.

Mr. Westerfield spent the majority of his career as a managing director at Morgan Stanley, having joined the firm in 1985 upon graduation from business school. At Morgan Stanley, Mr. Westerfield worked in numerous roles in investment banking, fixed income and investment management, all with a specialization in commercial real estate finance and investment. In his last role at Morgan Stanley, Mr. Westerfield had responsibility for the firm’s global commercial mortgage finance business. Upon retirement from Morgan Stanley in June 2008, Mr. Westerfield formed and managed Braddock Capital Management LLC, a private company which invested in REITs and commercial real estate related assets, including various office, industrial, multi-family rental and condominium development projects, primarily in the New York area.

Mr. Westerfield received a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School in 1985 and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Dartmouth College in 1981.

Consideration for Mr. Westerfield’s Recommendation: Mr. Westerfield’s extensive knowledge of commercial real estate finance and investment, continuing leadership as a chief executive officer of a prominent U.S. focused real estate investment business, and expertise in strategic business planning and investment strategy, highlight attributes qualifying him to serve as an independent director of the Company.

Winston W. Wilson. Winston W. Wilson is a director of the Company. Mr. Wilson was an independent director of NorthStar Real Estate Income II, Inc. and the chairman and financial expert of its Audit Committee, positions he held between April 2013 and January 2018. Mr. Wilson has also served as a director of NorthStar/RXR New York Metro Real Estate, Inc. and as the chairman and financial expert of its audit committee between February 2015 and October 2018.

Prior to becoming a board member, Mr. Wilson most recently worked for Grant Thornton’s New York office, from August 2008 until December 2012 as Partner in Charge and Financial Services Industry Leader, and from August 2011 until December 2012 as National Asset Management Sector Leader. Mr. Wilson has over 29 years of experience with financial services companies including, among others, mortgage and equity REITs, broker-dealers, mutual funds and registered investment advisors. Prior to joining Grant Thornton in 2000, Mr. Wilson worked for PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Credit Suisse First Boston and Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. Mr. Wilson is a certified public accountant in the states of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. He is a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants and New York State Society of CPAs. Mr. Wilson was also previously a member of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) Investment Company Expert Panel, as well as a member of the Strategic Partners Advisory Committee for Managed Funds Associations.

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Board of Directors

Mr. Wilson has a Master of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from New York University’s Stern School of Business in New York, New York and a Master of Science in Economics and a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from Brooklyn College in Brooklyn, New York. Mr. Wilson also has a doctorate degree in management from Pace University, New York, where he is also an adjunct professor.

Consideration for Mr. Wilson’s Recommendation: Mr. Wilson’s expertise in finance and accounting service, through years of service for leading accounting firms in addition to board and audit committee representation for public commercial real estate investment companies, highlight his leading qualifications to serve as a director of the Company.

Mark M. Hedstrom. Mark M. Hedstrom is an Executive Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Treasurer of Colony Capital. Effective July 1, 2020, Mr. Hedstrom will continue serving in his roles as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer and will no longer serve as the Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of Colony Capital.

Prior to the combination of Colony Capital, LLC and Colony Financial, Inc. into a predecessor of Colony Capital in 2015, Mr. Hedstrom was the global Chief Financial Officer for Colony Capital, LLC. In that role he was responsible for management of the financial and operating aspects of its funds management business, which included oversight of Colony Capital, LLC’s financial, human resources, information technology, risk management and investor reporting functions. Prior to joining the Colony Capital business in 1993, Mr. Hedstrom held senior positions with Koll International and Castle Pines Land Company.

Mr. Hedstrom spent five years with Ernst & Young, where he was a Senior Manager. Mr. Hedstrom is a Certified Public Accountant (license inactive) and received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting from the University of Colorado.

Consideration for Mr. Hedstrom’s Recommendation: Mr. Hedstrom’s extensive knowledge of the commercial real estate finance and investment business, global executive leadership at the Company’s Manager, and expertise in financial reporting, operations and risk management, qualify him to serve as a director of the Company.

Michael J. Mazzei. Michael J. Mazzei is our Chief Executive Officer and President. Mr. Mazzei will lead and oversee our operations, including investment and credit risk, capital raising and relationship management activities among stockholders, clients, partners, financing counterparties, research analysts and rating agencies.

Mr. Mazzei served as a member of the board of directors of Ladder Capital Corp from June 2017 through March 2020. Previously, Mr. Mazzei served as President of Ladder Capital from June 2012 through June 2017. From September 2009 to June 2012, Mr. Mazzei served as Global Head of the CMBS and Bank Loan Syndication Group at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Prior to that, Mr. Mazzei served as Co-Head of CMBS and Commercial Real Estate Debt Markets at Barclays Capital from March 2004 to June 2009. Prior to Barclays Capital, Mr. Mazzei spent 20 years at Lehman Brothers, including 18 years in commercial real estate finance-related functions. Having started in commercial mortgage trading in 1984, Mr. Mazzei became the head of CMBS in 1991 and served as the Co-Head of Global Real Estate Investment Banking from March 2002 to February 2004.

Mr. Mazzei received a B.S. from Baruch College and a J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law, and is a graduate of the New York University Real Estate Institute.

Consideration for Mr. Mazzei’s Recommendation: Mr. Mazzei’s over 35 years of experience in commercial real estate finance and having served as executive officer, director and in other senior leadership positions at a series of commercial real estate financing and banking institutions qualify him to serve as a director of the Company.

Andrew E. Witt. Andrew E. Witt is our Chief Operating Officer. From February 29, 2020 until his appointment as Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Witt served as our Interim President and Chief Executive Officer. In addition, Mr. Witt is Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer of Global Credit at Colony Capital. In his roles at Colony Capital, Mr. Witt is primarily focused on credit related operations and initiatives, including product development, investor relations and marketing of private offerings globally. Prior to taking on this most recent role he served as an investment professional responsible for the identification, evaluation, and consummation of real estate related investments. Mr. Witt also served as an Executive Vice President of Colony American Homes where he was responsible for overseeing investments in single family residential property which culminated in the acquisition of nearly 20,000 homes.

Prior to joining the Colony Capital business in 2007, Mr. Witt founded and managed a business in the industrial medicine sector. Mr. Witt received his Master of Business Administration from the University of Southern California and Bachelor of Arts in International Relations with a focus on International Economics from Stanford University. Mr. Witt was also a member of the 2000 U.S. Men’s Volleyball Olympic Team.

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Board of Directors

Consideration for Mr. Witt’s Recommendation: Mr. Witt’s experience overseeing investment and portfolio management operations at the Company since inception, including his professional experience in credit related operations, investment experience and investor relations activities qualify him to serve as a director of the Company.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” EACH OF THE NOMINEES IDENTIFIED ABOVE.

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Executive Officers

EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

The following sets forth certain information concerning our executive officers. Our executive officers are appointed annually by our Board.

Michael J. Mazzei. See biography in “Board of Directors” above.

Neale W. Redington. Neale W. Redington serves as Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company. Mr. Redington previously served as the Chief Accounting Officer of the Company between January 2018 and November 2018. In addition, Mr. Redington serves as Managing Director and the Chief Accounting Officer of Colony Capital, where he is responsible for financial accounting and reporting for firm-sponsored investments and related affiliates and subsidiaries of Colony Capital.

Prior to joining the Colony Capital business in 2008, Mr. Redington was an audit partner in the real estate and hospitality practice of Deloitte & Touche LLP. During his twenty years with Deloitte, Mr. Redington worked in both London and Los Angeles.

Mr. Redington, a Certified Public Accountant (license inactive) and a Chartered Accountant in England & Wales, received a Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting degree with Honors from the University of Birmingham in England.

Andrew E. Witt. See biography in “Board of Directors” above.

David A. Palamé. David Palamé is General Counsel and Secretary at the Company. Mr. Palamé is responsible for legal, administrative, regulatory and compliance activities, corporate secretarial and other support for the Company’s business.

In addition, Mr. Palamé serves as Managing Director, Deputy General Counsel of Colony Capital, where he is responsible for global legal, private capital formation, investment allocation and support for the Colony Capital business. Prior to joining the Colony Capital business in 2007, Mr. Palamé was an associate with the law firm of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and previously served as a law clerk to the Honorable William J. Rea, United States District Court for the Central District of California at Los Angeles.

Mr. Palamé received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State University of New York at Buffalo and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Pennsylvania Law School, where he served on the board of officers of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review.

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Corporate Governance

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE GUIDELINES, CODES OF ETHICS AND COMMITTEE CHARTERS

We are committed to strong corporate governance practices and, as such, we have adopted our Corporate Governance Guidelines and Codes of Ethics discussed below to enhance our corporate governance effectiveness. Our Board maintains charters for all Board committees. These guidelines, codes and our committee charters are available on our website at www.clncredit.com under the heading “Shareholders—Corporate Governance.” You can also receive a copy of our Corporate Governance Guidelines and Codes of Ethics, without charge, by writing to the General Counsel at Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc., 590 Madison Avenue, 34^th Floor, New York, New York 10022.

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines are designed to assist our Board in exercising its responsibilities. Our Corporate Governance Guidelines govern, among other things, Board composition, Board member qualifications, responsibilities and education, management succession and self-evaluation. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics relates to the conduct of our business by our officers and directors and the employees, officers and directors of our Manager (and Colony Capital) who provide services to us. We seek to maintain high standards of ethical business practices and compliance with all laws and regulations applicable to our business, including those related to doing business outside the United States. Our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics is designed to avoid situations in which personal interests conflict, or have the appearance of conflicting, with those of the Company. Among other things, our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics prohibits our directors, executive officers and employees and employees and officers of our Manager, among other persons (“covered persons”), from providing gifts, meals or anything of value to government officials or employees or members of their families in connection with our business without prior written approval from the Company’s General Counsel or Chief Executive Officer. We have also adopted a Code of Ethics for Senior Financial Officers, which applies to our Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and other senior financial and accounting officers of the Company performing similar functions who have been identified by the Chief Executive Officer from time to time. Any waiver of the Code of Business Conduct and Ethics for our executive officers or directors may be made only by the Audit Committee or another committee of the Board of Directors comprised solely of independent directors or a majority of independent directors. We will disclose on our website any amendments to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, Codes of Ethics or committee charters or waivers from our Codes of Ethics applicable to any of our directors and executive officers that would otherwise be required to be disclosed under the rules of the SEC or the NYSE.

DIRECTOR INDEPENDENCE

Of our seven directors being nominated for re-election by our Board, our Board has affirmatively determined that Ms. Rice and Messrs. Schwartz, Westerfield and Wilson are independent under the NYSE rules and under applicable rules of the SEC. In determining director independence, our Board reviewed, among other things, any transactions or relationships that currently exist or that have existed since our incorporation, between each director and the Company and its subsidiaries, affiliates and equity investors, independent auditors or members of senior management. In particular, our Board reviewed current or recent business transactions or relationships or other personal relationships between each director and the Company, including such director’s immediate family and companies owned or controlled by the director or with which the director was affiliated. The purpose of this review was to determine whether any such transactions or relationships failed to meet any of the objective tests under the NYSE rules for determining independence or were otherwise sufficiently material as to be inconsistent with a determination that the director is independent.

BOARD LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE

Our Board believes it is important to select its Chairman and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer in the manner it considers to be in the best interests of the Company at any given point in time. The members of our Board possess considerable business experience and in-depth knowledge of the issues the Company faces, and are therefore in the best position to evaluate the needs of the Company and how best to organize the Company’s leadership structure to meet those needs.

After careful consideration, our Board believes that the most effective leadership structure for the Company at this time is to maintain separate the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Currently, Mr. Saltzman serves as our Non-Executive Chairman and Mr. Mazzei serves as our Chief Executive Officer and President.

The Board has nominated Mr. Hedstrom to serve as Chairman upon election, and believes we will benefit from his experience, knowledge, leadership and vision. Our Board believes that having Mr. Mazzei as Chief Executive Officer, with over 35 years of experience in commercial real estate finance and having served as executive officer, director and in other senior leadership positions at a series of commercial real estate financing and banking institutions, best serves the interests of the Company. Our Board periodically evaluates the Company’s leadership structure and will periodically evaluate the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer positions, including determining whether the separate roles continue to serve the best interests of the Company.

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Corporate Governance

LEAD INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR

To promote the independence of our Board and appropriate oversight of management, the independent directors select annually a Lead Independent Director, currently Ms. Rice, to facilitate free and open discussion and communication among the independent directors of our Board and management. The Board has nominated Ms. Rice to serve as Lead Independent Director of the Company upon re-election. The Lead Independent Director presides at all executive sessions at which only non-management directors are present. These meetings are held in conjunction with the regularly scheduled quarterly meetings of our Board, but may be called at any time by our Lead Independent Director or any of our other independent directors. In 2019, our independent directors met ten times in executive session without management present following Board and/or committee meetings and met outside of regularly scheduled Board and committee meetings on certain occasions. If applicable, our Lead Independent Director will discuss issues that arise during those meetings with our Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Our Lead Independent Director also discusses Board meeting agendas with our Chairman and Secretary and may request the inclusion of additional agenda items for meetings of our Board.

BOARD’S ROLE IN RISK OVERSIGHT

Risk is inherent with every business and how well a business manages risk can ultimately determine its success. Our management team is responsible for our risk exposures on a day-to-day basis by identifying the material risks we face, implementing appropriate risk management strategies that are responsive to our risk profile, integrating consideration of risk, risk ratings and risk management into our decision-making process and, if necessary, promulgating policies and procedures to ensure that information with respect to material risks is communicated to our Board. Our Board, as a whole and through its committees, has the responsibility to oversee and monitor these risk management processes by informing itself of material risks and evaluating whether management has reasonable controls in place to address the material risks. Our Board is not responsible, however, for defining or managing our various risks. Our Board is regularly informed by management of potential material risks and activities related to those risks at Board and/or committee meetings. Members of our management team generally attend all Board meetings and are readily available to our Board to address any questions or concerns raised by our Board on risk management and any other matters.

Our Audit Committee assists the Board’s oversight of the integrity of our financial statements and financial reporting process, our compliance with legal and regulatory requirements, the qualifications and independence of our independent registered public accounting firm, and the performance of our internal audit function and independent registered public accounting firm. In addition, the Audit Committee has established and maintains procedures for the receipt of complaints and submissions of concerns regarding accounting and auditing matters. Pursuant to its charter, the Audit Committee also considers our policies with respect to financial reporting risk assessment and risk management.

In addition, the Compensation Committee shall also ensure that compensation plans are designed with an appropriate balance of risk and reward in relation to the Company’s overall business strategy and do not encourage excessive or unnecessary risk-taking behavior.

VOTING STANDARD FOR ELECTION OF DIRECTORS

Our bylaws provide that, in any uncontested election of directors, a director nominee will be elected by a majority of all of the votes cast for and against such nominee at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present. If in any uncontested election of directors an incumbent director does not receive a majority of the votes cast by stockholders entitled to vote with respect to the election of that director, our Corporate Governance Guidelines require such director to tender his or her resignation within three days after certification of the results. To the extent that one or more directors’ resignations are accepted by the Board, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will recommend to the Board whether to fill such vacancy or vacancies or to reduce the size of the Board. In any contested election of directors, directors will be elected by a plurality of votes cast at a meeting of stockholders.

DIRECTORS OFFER OF RESIGNATION POLICY

Our Corporate Governance Guidelines provide that, whenever a member of the Board (i) accepts a position with a company that is competitive to the business(es) then engaged in by the Company or (ii) violates the Company’s Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, Corporate Governance Guidelines or any other Company policy applicable to the members of the Board from time to time, he or she shall offer his or her resignation to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee. The director shall be expected to act in accordance with the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation in this regard.

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Corporate Governance

DIRECTOR NOMINATION PROCEDURES

The Board has adopted the charter of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee that sets forth the criteria to be used for considering potential director candidates. The criteria further the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s goal of ensuring that our Board consists of a diversified group of qualified individuals that function effectively as a group. The policy provides that qualifications and credentials for consideration as a director nominee may vary according to the particular areas of expertise being sought as a complement to the existing composition of the Board. However, at a minimum, candidates for director must have the highest personal and professional integrity, a demonstrated exceptional ability and judgment and an ability to be most effective, in conjunction with the other nominees to the Board, in collectively serving the long-term interests of the Company and its stockholders.

In addition to the aforementioned qualifications, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall assess the nominee’s independence and may consider, among other things, the following, all in the context of an assessment of the perceived needs of the Board at that time:

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will seek to identify director candidates based on input provided by a number of sources, including (a) Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee members, (b) other members of the Board and (c) stockholders of the Company. All candidates submitted by stockholders will be evaluated in the same manner as all other director candidates, provided that the advance notice and other requirements set forth in our bylaws have been followed. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee also has the authority to consult with or retain advisors or search firms as it deems necessary or appropriate in its sole discretion, including any search firm to assist in the identification of qualified director candidates; however, we do not currently employ a search firm, or pay a fee to any other third party, to locate qualified director candidates.

COMMUNICATIONS WITH OUR BOARD

Our Board has established a process to receive communications from interested parties, including stockholders. Interested parties may contact the Lead Independent Director or any other member or all members of our Board by writing to any of them at c/o General Counsel at Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc., 590 Madison Avenue, 34^th Floor, New York, New York 10022. All such communications received by the office of our General Counsel will be opened solely for the purpose of determining whether the contents represent a message to our directors. Any contents that are not in the nature of advertising, promotions of a product or service or patently offensive material will be forwarded promptly to the addressee(s). The Lead Independent Director will decide what action should be taken with respect to the communication, including whether such communication should be reported to the Board.

POLICY FOR REVIEW OF RELATED PERSON TRANSACTIONS

Pursuant to our Audit Committee’s charter, our Audit Committee must review reports and disclosures of related party transactions and consider any potential conflicts of interest involving our executive officers or any member of our Board. The Audit Committee must review and consider for approval any related party transaction between us and any executive officer or director. When reviewing and evaluating a related party transaction, our Audit Committee may consider, among other things, any effect a transaction may have upon a director’s independence, whether the transaction involves terms and conditions that are no less favorable to us than those that could be obtained in a transaction between us and an unrelated third party and the nature of any director’s or officer’s involvement in the transaction. In the event any such related party transaction involves a member of the Audit Committee, the transaction must be approved by a majority of the disinterested members of the Audit Committee.

To facilitate our Audit Committee’s review of related party transactions, on an annual basis, each director and executive officer is obligated to complete a director and officer questionnaire which requires disclosure of any transactions with us in which the

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Corporate Governance

director or executive officer or any member of his or her immediate family, has an interest. In addition, pursuant to our Code of Business Conduct and Ethics, all potential conflict of interest situations, including related party transactions, must be disclosed to our General Counsel. To the extent any such potential conflict of interest disclosed to our General Counsel is a proposed related party transaction, the General Counsel will communicate such conflict and the proposed transaction to the Audit Committee. Further, our General Counsel will notify the members of our Audit Committee promptly of any material changes to previously approved or conditionally approved related party transactions.

See “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions” for a description of our related party and certain other transactions.

POLICY ON HEDGING AND PLEDGING OF COMPANY SECURITIES

Pursuant to our Policy on Inside Information and Insider Trading, our directors and employees, including our named executive officers, are prohibited from engaging in the following transactions: (i) trading in call or put options involving our securities and other derivative securities; (ii) engaging in short sales of our securities; (iii) holding our securities in a margin account; (iv) other hedging or monetization transactions related to the Company’s securities, including the use of financial instruments such as prepaid variable forwards, equity swaps, collars and exchange funds and (v) pledging our securities to secure margins or other loans, subject to limited exceptions.

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Information about Our Board of Directors and its Committees

INFORMATION ABOUT OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND ITS COMMITTEES

Our Board met on fifteen (15) occasions, where all directors attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of meetings of our Board and of all committees on which they served during fiscal year 2019.

Pursuant to our Corporate Governance Guidelines, members of our Board are expected to attend our annual meetings of stockholders. All of our current directors attended the 2019 annual meeting of stockholders, either in person or telephonically.

Our Board has appointed an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee as standing committees. Each of these standing committees has adopted a committee charter, which is available on our website at www.clncredit.com under the heading “Shareholders—Corporate Governance” or by writing to the General Counsel at Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc., 590 Madison Avenue, 34^th Floor, New York, New York 10022 to request a copy, without charge. In 2019, the Board also appointed a Special Committee to consider a proposed internalization of management, as described further below. Each committee of our Board is composed exclusively of independent directors, as defined by the NYSE listing standards and Section 10A-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).

The following table shows the current membership of the Audit Committee, Compensation Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee:

C        Committee Chair            M        Committee Member            E        Audit Committee Financial Expert

AUDIT COMMITTEE

The principal purpose of the Audit Committee is to assist the Board in the oversight of:

The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention and oversight of the work of our independent auditors and is also responsible for reviewing with our independent auditors any audit problems or difficulties they encounter in the course of their audit work. The Audit Committee is also charged with the tasks of reviewing our financial statements, any significant financial reporting issues and any major issues as to the adequacy of internal control with management and our independent auditors.

Our Audit Committee’s written charter requires that all members of the committee must satisfy the requirements of the NYSE, the rules and regulations of the SEC and applicable laws relating to independence, financial literacy and experience. All of the members of the Audit Committee meet the foregoing requirements. The Board has determined that Winston W. Wilson is an “audit committee financial expert” as defined by the rules and regulations of the SEC. For information about Mr. Wilson’s experience, see “Board of Directors” above.

During 2019, the Audit Committee met four (4) times, including by telephone (if applicable), and each member of such Audit Committee attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of such meetings.

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Information about Our Board of Directors and its Committees

NOMINATING & CORPORATE GOVERNANCE COMMITTEE

The principal purposes of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee are to:

During 2019, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee met four (4) times, including by telephone (if applicable), and each member of such Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of such meetings.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE

The principal purposes of the Compensation Committee are to:

In addition, the Compensation Committee shall also ensure that compensation plans are designed with an appropriate balance of risk and reward in relation to the Company’s overall business strategy and do not encourage excessive or unnecessary risk-taking behavior.

The Compensation Committee may delegate its authority to members as it deems appropriate, and any actions taken by a member who has been delegated authority must be reported to the full Compensation Committee at its next regularly scheduled meeting. The Compensation Committee has the sole authority to retain and terminate such outside legal, accounting or other advisors to the Compensation Committee as it deems necessary and advisable in its sole discretion, including compensation consultants. In selecting such advisors or consultants, the Compensation Committee shall consider the independence of such advisor or consultant, as determined by it in its business judgment, in accordance with the standards of the NYSE, any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC and other applicable laws relating to the independence of advisors and consultants. The Compensation Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, and oversight of the work of any compensation consultant or other advisor retained by the Compensation Committee.

During 2019, the Compensation Committee met four (4) times, including by telephone (if applicable), and each member of such Compensation Committee attended at least 75% of the aggregate number of such meetings.

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION

During 2019, the following directors, all of whom are independent directors, served on our Compensation Committee: Ms. Rice and Messrs. Schwartz, Westerfield and Wilson. None of our executive officers serve as a member of a board of directors or compensation committee, or other committee serving an equivalent function, of any other entity that has one or more of its executive officers serving as a member of our Board or Compensation Committee.

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Information about Our Board of Directors and its Committees

SPECIAL COMMITTEE

In October 2019, our Board formed a Special Committee, consisting exclusively of independent and disinterested directors, including Ms. Rice and Messrs. Schwartz, Westerfield and Wilson. Ms. Rice serves as the committee chair.

On November 6, 2019, Colony Capital sent a letter to our independent directors proposing to explore with us the possible internalization of the management of the Company and a transfer of Colony Capital’s credit management business to us. The letter provided that an internalization would be subject to, among other things, the negotiation of terms and definitive documentation and approval of our Board of Directors and the board of directors of Colony Capital (or an authorized committee thereof in each case). The Special Committee was formed to explore this internalization proposal as well as other strategic alternatives.

In connection therewith, and as reflected by Schedule 13D filed by Colony Capital with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on February 27, 2020, Colony Capital plans to take any and all actions as may be necessary or appropriate for Colony Capital to enter into an agreement with us and/or one or more third parties with respect to a disposition of Colony Capital’s management agreement with us, subject to our consent, whether in the form of an internalization of our management (including, but not limited to, the possible internalization set forth in the November 6, 2019 letter), a sale of Colony Capital’s management agreement with us, or similar transaction the effect of which is to dispose of Colony Capital’s management agreement with us. The scope of any such transaction is focused on Colony Capital’s management agreement with us, and not Colony Capital’s private credit investment management platform or associated private credit assets.

The Special Committee is committed to taking all appropriate steps to maximize value for the Company and its stockholders, and has been actively engaged in a robust process to explore a range of value-enhancing opportunities, including, but not limited to, the potential transactions proposed by Colony Capital. The Special Committee has engaged both an independent financial advisor and legal advisor. We can give no assurance as to whether we and Colony Capital will enter into an agreement to internalize the management of the Company, the terms or scope of such agreement and the timing of closing, or whether we may pursue other strategic alternatives.

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Director Compensation

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION

DETERMINATION OF COMPENSATION AWARDS

The Compensation Committee has responsibility for making recommendations to our Board regarding non-employee director compensation. Our goal is the creation of a reasonable and balanced Board compensation program that aligns the interests of our Board with those of our stockholders. We use a combination of cash and stock-based compensation to attract and retain highly-qualified candidates to serve on our Board. In setting director compensation, we consider the significant amount of time that directors expend in fulfilling their duties to us, the skill level required by us of members of our Board and competitive pay practice data. The Compensation Committee discusses its recommendations with the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and ultimately makes a recommendation to our Board with respect to all non-employee director compensation. In 2019, the Compensation Committee engaged FPL Associates as compensation consultant to assist it in reviewing competitive practice data regarding non-employee director compensation and to advise it in connection with making recommendations to our Board with respect to the amount and form of such compensation.

NON-EXECUTIVE NON-EMPLOYEE DIRECTOR COMPENSATION POLICY

Effective February 2018, the Board adopted a “Non-Executive Independent Director Compensation Policy” that provides that each non-executive director of the Board receives an annual base fee for his or her services of $180,000, with $80,000 payable in cash in quarterly installments in conjunction with quarterly meetings of the Board and $100,000 payable in the form of an annual award of restricted shares of common stock, which will vest in full on the one-year anniversary of the date of grant (anticipated to occur shortly after each annual election of directors), subject to the director’s continued service on the Board. In addition, the chairs of each of the Audit, Compensation, and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committees receive an additional annual cash retainer of $20,000, $15,000 and $15,000, respectively, and the Lead Independent Director receives an additional annual cash retainer of $20,000. The Company also reimburses each of the directors for their travel expenses incurred in connection with their attendance at Board and committee meetings.

Messrs. Tangen and Traenkle did not receive compensation for their services as directors during 2019.

The members of the Special Committee each receive a one-time additional cash retainer of $100,000 and the chair of the Special Committee receives a one-time additional $10,000 cash retainer, paid in two installments in January 2020 and April 2020.

DIRECTOR COMPENSATION TABLE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019

The following information details the compensation received during 2019 as non-employee directors of the Company.

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Executive Compensation

EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

COMPENSATION DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS

We have no employees and are externally managed by our Manager pursuant to a management agreement (the “Management Agreement”). All of our named executive officers are employees of our Manager or one or more of its affiliates and, in such capacity, devote a portion of their time to our affairs as is required pursuant to the Management Agreement.

Because the Management Agreement with the Manager provides that the Manager is responsible for managing the affairs of the Company, we do not pay, award or provide our executive officers any cash compensation or benefits, and we have no compensation agreements with our executive officers. Additionally, we do not determine the form and amount of compensation and benefits awarded by our Manager or its affiliates to our executive officers for their services to us. Instead, our Manager or its affiliates have discretion to determine the form and level of cash compensation and other benefits paid to and earned by our executive officers for their services to us. Our Manager or its affiliates also determine whether and to what extent our executive officers will be provided with pension, deferred compensation and other employee benefits plans and programs. Instead, the Company pays the Manager management fees and reimbursement amounts, as described below under “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Management Agreement with our Manager”.

Pursuant to the terms of the Management Agreement, we reimburse our Manager or its affiliates for our allocable share of the compensation (including annual base salary, bonus and any related withholding taxes and employee benefits) our Manager pays to its personnel serving as our Chief Financial Officer based on the percentage of such officer’s time spent on our affairs. Our Chief Financial Officer receives no pension or retirement benefits or nonqualified deferred compensation in connection with his service to us, and there are no severance arrangements to make cash payments to our Chief Financial Officer upon his termination or in the event of our change in control.

Our Manager is responsible, and we do not reimburse our Manager or its affiliates, for the cash compensation and benefits awarded to personnel of our Manager and its affiliates who serve as our named executive officers other than that for our Chief Financial Officer. In addition, the Management Agreement does not require that any of our named executive officers dedicate a specific amount of time to fulfilling our Manager’s obligations to us under the Management Agreement and does not require a specified amount or percentage of the fees we pay to our Manager to be allocated to our named executive officers. Instead, members of our management team are required to devote such amount of their time to our management as necessary and appropriate, commensurate with our level of activity, noting these individuals also provide investment management and other services to Colony Capital and other investment vehicles that are sponsored, managed or advised by affiliates thereof.

Colony Capital’s compensation philosophy is to seek to align the interests of its professionals (including our executive officers) with those of its investors and investors in the vehicles that it manages, including us. In setting compensation for its professionals, Colony Capital takes into consideration various factors in determining the total compensation payable to its professionals including the type, scope and level of responsibility of the professional on behalf of Colony Capital, the Company, and other managed affiliates, as applicable. Colony Capital evaluates market conditions and individual contributions made by the professional. With regard to the compensation that was paid by Colony Capital to our named executive officers, Colony Capital also evaluated contributions to Company performance during 2019, including deployment of capital in new investments, portfolio management and asset rationalization activities, and overall efforts to strengthen our balance sheet and maintain focused risk management activities.

In setting compensation for its professionals, including our named executive officers, Colony Capital did not take into account the amount of the management fee we pay to our Manager. For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, we incurred a total management fee expense of $42.39 million. We did not pay any incentive compensation fees to our Manager during the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. For the year ended December 31, 2019, the total reimbursements of expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of the Company and reimbursable in accordance with the Management Agreement was $11.1 million. Of the reimbursement amount, $517,584 represented our aggregate reimbursement for the salary and other compensation/benefits earned by our Chief Financial Officer in 2019.

Our named executive officers for 2019 were Kevin P. Traenkle, our former Chief Executive Officer and President; Neale W. Redington, our Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer; and David A. Palamé, our General Counsel and Secretary. Mr. Witt served as Interim Chief Executive Officer and President between February 29, 2020 and April 1, 2020. Effective April 1, 2020, Mr. Mazzei was appointed as Chief Executive Officer and President. Therefore, neither Mr. Witt nor Mr. Mazzei were named executive officers in 2019.

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Executive Compensation

EQUITY-BASED COMPENSATION

We have adopted an incentive plan, the CLNC Incentive Plan, under which we may award equity-based and cash-based awards to our and our subsidiaries’ directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors and directors, officers and employees of our Manager and its affiliates that are providing services to us and our subsidiaries. These awards are designed to align the interests of such individuals with those of our stockholders and to provide incentive to eligible persons (including at our Manager and its affiliates) to stimulate their efforts towards the success of the Company and to operate and manage its business in a manner that will provide for the long term growth and profitability of the Company.

Our Compensation Committee may, from time to time, grant our named executive officers and Manager (and/or employees of its affiliates) equity-based awards, including stock options, restricted shares of our common stock, RSUs, stock appreciation rights and other equity-based awards that are exercisable for or settle in shares of our common stock. These awards are designed to align the interests of our named executive officers and such other recipients with those of our stockholders, by allowing each to share in the creation of value for our stockholders through capital appreciation and dividends. These equity awards are generally subject to vesting requirements over a number of years, and are designed to promote the retention of management and achievement of strong performance for the Company. These awards provide a further benefit to us by enabling our Manager to attract, motivate and retain talented individuals to serve as our executive officers and other personnel to the Company. The Compensation Committee reviews the recommendations of the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, the Manager and outside compensation consultant in determining the appropriate size of the equity award for each executive officer, the Manager (and/or employees of its affiliates), as applicable. These recommendations take into account certain quantitative, qualitative and individual variables, which may include the financial performance of the Company during the prior fiscal year, certain performance standards designed in consultation with the Compensation Committee at the beginning of a subject year, peer benchmarking (including relative total stockholder return evaluations), current market conditions, the performance of each executive officer or other persons and the desire to continue to align the interests of each recipient with our stockholders. Qualitative factors may include portfolio-related performance, operating performance, asset management achievements, capital raising efforts, investor relations, business development, risk management policies and practices, and regulatory compliance. Individual factors may include contributions to the success and development of the Company, such as type, scope and level of responsibility, leadership and development efforts and corporate citizenship. Satisfaction of any single or all variables will not necessarily be determinative alone at arriving at the overall award for any named executive officer, or any grant to the Manager, and the Compensation Committee reserves its right to use its judgment in making equity awards, if any.

In March 2019, our named executive officers were granted restricted common stock awards in the following amounts: 103,177 shares of restricted common stock to Mr. Traenkle, 33,868 shares of restricted common stock to Mr. Redington, and 23,217 shares of restricted common stock to Mr. Palamé. These restricted stock awards generally vest in three substantially equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date.

Subsequent to equity awards in early 2019, after evaluating Company performance and total shareholder return, among other factors, the Compensation Committee has elected to not approve any grants of restricted common stock to our named executive officers for services provided to the Company through the date of this proxy statement in 2020.

24

Executive Compensation

SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019

The following table sets forth the compensation for each of our named executive officers for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. No named executive officer earned any form of compensation from the Company prior to February 1, 2018.

GRANTS OF PLAN-BASED AWARDS DURING CALENDAR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019

The following table provides information regarding plan-based awards granted to the Company’s named executive officers during the calendar year ended December 31, 2019.

25

Executive Compensation

OUTSTANDING EQUITY AWARDS AT DECEMBER 31, 2019

The following table provides information regarding outstanding equity awards held by each of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2019.

STOCK VESTED IN CALENDAR YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2019

The following table provides information regarding outstanding equity awards held by each of our named executive officers as of December 31, 2019.

POTENTIAL PAYMENTS UPON TERMINATION OR CHANGE OF CONTROL

Upon a named executive officer’s termination of employment other than for death or “disability” (as defined in the CLNC Incentive Plan), vesting generally ceases for such person’s restricted stock awards that have not vested. Upon a named executive officer’s death or disability, any of such person’s unvested restricted stock awards will immediately vest.

Upon a “change in control” (as defined in the CLNC Incentive Plan) in which all or a portion of the restricted stock awards and other awards, in each case, with the exception of any “performance award” (as defined in the CLNC Incentive Plan) are not being assumed or continued, all restricted stock shall be deemed to have fully vested effective immediately prior to the occurrence of a change in control. Upon the occurrence of a “change in control” (as defined in the CLNC Incentive Plan) in which certain outstanding awards are being assumed or continued, those awards shall continue in the manner and under the same terms and conditions provided under the CLNC Incentive Plan and applicable award agreement in the event of any change in control to the extent that provision is made in writing in connection with such change in control for the assumption or continuation of such awards, or for the substitution of such awards for new cash-denominated awards of equivalent economic value or common stock options, stock appreciation rights, restricted stock, stock units, dividend equivalent rights, profits interests, and other equity-based awards relating to the stock or other equity interest of a successor entity or a parent or subsidiary thereof, with appropriate adjustments as to the number of shares or units and option and stock appreciation rights exercise prices.

26

Executive Compensation

Our named executive officers are not entitled to any additional severance payments or benefits upon termination of employment or a change in control of the Company.

As of December 31, 2019, the cash value of benefits each named executive officer would receive upon death, disability or a change in control in which the awards are not being assumed or continued are set forth above in the table of Outstanding Equity Awards at December 31, 2019. In connection with Mr. Traenkle’s resignation effective February 29, 2020, all of his outstanding unvested stock awards vested in accordance with the terms of his award agreement under the CLNC Incentive Plan as a result of his separate employment agreement with Colony Capital and had a market value of $1,701,944 upon vesting.

SECURITIES AUTHORIZED FOR ISSUANCE UNDER EQUITY COMPENSATION PLANS

The following table presents information relating to securities remaining available for future issuance under the CLNC Incentive Plan as of the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER PAY RATIO

As an externally-managed company, we did not have any employees in 2019 and all of our named executive officers, including our Chief Executive Officer, were employees of our Manager and/or affiliates of our Manager. Accordingly, we have not calculated or included a pay ratio for 2019.

27

Compensation Committee Report

COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT

The Compensation Committee has reviewed and discussed the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” required by Item 402(b) of Regulation S-K under the Exchange Act with management.

Based on such review and discussions, our Compensation Committee recommended to our Board that the “Compensation Discussion and Analysis” be included in this Proxy Statement.

Compensation Committee:

Vernon B. Schwartz, Chairman

Catherine D. Rice

John E. Westerfield

Winston W. Wilson

The information contained in this “Compensation Committee Report” is not to be deemed “soliciting material” or “filed” with the SEC, nor is such information to be incorporated by reference into any future filings under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), or the Exchange Act except to the extent that we specifically incorporate it by reference into such filings.

28

Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

The following table sets forth, as of March 24, 2020, the number and percentage of shares of our common stock and limited liability company units of our Operating Partnership (“OP Units”) beneficially owned by:

The following table also sets forth the number and percentage of shares of our common stock beneficially owned by each person, known to us, to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of our common stock in each case, based solely on, and as of the date of, such person’s filing of statements filed with the SEC pursuant to Sections 13(d), 13(f) and 13(g) of the Exchange Act with respect to our common stock:

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Security Ownership of Certain Beneficial Owners and Management

30

Proposal No. 2: Advisory Vote on Executive Compensation

In accordance with Section 14A of the Exchange Act and the related rules of the SEC, we are providing our stockholders an opportunity to indicate whether they support the compensation of our named executive officers, as described in this proxy statement. At our 2019 annual meeting of stockholders, our stockholders voted, on a non-binding advisory basis, to recommend that we hold a “say-on-pay” vote on an annual basis, and the Board approved such recommendation. This advisory vote, commonly referred to as “say on pay,” is not intended to address any specific item of compensation, but rather addresses the overall compensation of our named executive officers and our philosophy, policies and practices relating to their compensation as described in this proxy statement in accordance with the SEC’s compensation disclosure rules. Please see “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis” in this proxy statement for additional details about our executive compensation programs, including information about the compensation of our named executive officers for 2019.

As described under “Executive Compensation—Compensation Discussion and Analysis” elsewhere in this proxy statement, we are externally managed by our Manager pursuant to the Management Agreement. All of our named executive officers are employees of our Manager or one or more of its affiliates and, in such capacity, devote a portion of their time to our affairs as is required pursuant to the Management Agreement. We do not have any employees. Because the Management Agreement with the Manager provides that the Manager is responsible for managing the affairs of the Company, we do not pay, award or provide our executive officers any cash compensation or benefits, and we have no compensation agreements with our executive officers. Additionally, we do not determine the form and amount of compensation and benefits awarded by our Manager or its affiliates to our executive officers for their services to us. Instead, our Manager or its affiliates have discretion to determine the form and level of cash compensation and other benefits paid to and earned by our executive officers for their services to us. Our Manager or its affiliates also determine whether and to what extent our executive officers will be provided with pension, deferred compensation and other employee benefits plans and programs. Instead, the Company pays the Manager management fees and reimbursement amounts, as described above under “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions—Management Agreement with our Manager”.

However, as set forth above under “Executive Compensation—Equity-Based Compensation” elsewhere in this proxy statement, we have adopted an incentive plan, the CLNC Incentive Plan, under which we may award equity-based and cash-based awards to our and our subsidiaries’ directors, officers, employees, consultants and advisors and directors, officers and employees of our Manager and its affiliates that are providing services to us and our subsidiaries. These awards are designed to align the interests of such individuals with those of our stockholders and to provide incentive to eligible persons (including at our Manager and its affiliates) to stimulate their efforts towards the success of the Company and to operate and manage its business in a manner that will provide for the long term growth and profitability of the Company.

The Board of Directors recommends that stockholders vote in favor of the following resolution:

“RESOLVED, that the compensation paid to the Company’s named executive officers, as disclosed pursuant to Item 402 of Regulation S-K, including the Compensation Discussion and Analysis, compensation tables and narrative discussion, is hereby APPROVED on an advisory basis.”

Although this vote is advisory and is not binding on the Company, the Compensation Committee values the opinions of our stockholders. To the extent that there is any significant vote against the compensation of our named executive officers, we will consider our stockholders’ concerns, and the Compensation Committee will evaluate whether any actions are necessary to address those concerns.

Vote Required and Recommendation

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting is required for approval of the advisory “say on pay” resolution regarding the compensation of our named executive officers. For purposes of the vote on this proposal, abstentions and broker non-votes will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote, although they will be considered present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum. See “About the Meeting - How many votes are required to approve the proposals?” for additional information regarding the required vote for this proposal.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE ADVISORY APPROVAL OF THE RESOLUTION APPROVING THE COMPENSATION OF THE COMPANY’S NAMED EXECUTIVE OFFICERS.

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Proposal No. 3: Ratification of Appointment of Our Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm

The Audit Committee of our Board has appointed Ernst & Young LLP (“EY”) as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. After careful consideration of the matter and in recognition of the importance of this matter to our stockholders, the Board has determined that it is in the best interests of the Company and our stockholders to seek the ratification by our stockholders of our Audit Committee’s selection of our independent registered public accounting firm. A representative of EY will be present at the Annual Meeting, will have the opportunity to make a statement if they so desire and will be available to respond to appropriate questions.

Even if the appointment of EY as our independent registered public accounting firm is ratified, our Board and the Audit Committee may, in their discretion, change that appointment at any time during the year should they determine such a change would be in our and our stockholders’ best interests. In the event that the appointment of EY is not ratified, the Audit Committee will consider the appointment of another independent registered public accounting firm, but will not be required to appoint a different firm.

Vote Required and Recommendation

The affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at the meeting is required for approval of the ratification of the appointment of EY as our independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. For purposes of the vote on this proposal, abstentions will not be counted as votes cast and will have no effect on the result of the vote, although they will be considered present for the purpose of determining the presence of a quorum. See “About the Meeting (FAQs) - How many votes are required to approve the proposals?” for additional information regarding the required vote for this proposal.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMENDS A VOTE “FOR” THE RATIFICATION OF THE APPOINTMENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP AS THE COMPANY’S INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM FOR THE YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2020.

32

Audit Committee Report

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

The Audit Committee operates under a written charter adopted by the Board, consistent with the corporate governance rules of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, and the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE. A copy of the Audit Committee charter is available on the Company’s website at www.clncredit.com. The Board has determined that all members of the Audit Committee meet the independence standards established by the NYSE.

The Audit Committee oversees the Company’s financial reporting process on behalf of the Board. The Company’s management has the primary responsibility for the preparation of the financial statements and the reporting process, including maintaining a system of internal control over financial reporting and disclosure controls and procedures. The Audit Committee is directly responsible for the appointment, compensation, retention, oversight and termination of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm. The Audit Committee appointed Ernst & Young LLP, an independent registered public accounting firm, as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019. The independent registered public accounting firm is responsible for performing an audit of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or U.S. GAAP, and issuing a report thereon. The Audit Committee reviews and oversees these processes, including oversight of: (1) the integrity of the Company’s financial statements; (2) the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm’s qualifications and independence; (3) the performance of the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm and the Company’s internal audit function, which was performed by the Manager’s internal audit department with the assistance of Deloitte & Touche LLP for the 2019 year; and (4) the Company’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements.

In discharging its oversight role, the Audit Committee reviewed and discussed with the Company’s management and Ernst & Young LLP, the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, the audited financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, including discussions regarding critical accounting policies, other financial accounting and reporting principles and practices appropriate for the Company, the quality of such principles and practices and the reasonableness of significant judgments. Management represented to the Audit Committee that the Company’s consolidated financial statements were prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP. The Audit Committee also discussed with Ernst & Young LLP the matters required to be discussed by applicable standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.

In addition, the Audit Committee discussed with Ernst & Young LLP its independence from the Company and the Company’s management and Ernst & Young LLP provided to the Audit Committee the written disclosures and letter required from the independent registered public accounting firm by the applicable requirements of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board for independent auditor communications with audit committees concerning independence.

The Audit Committee discussed with Ernst & Young LLP the overall scope and plans for their audit. The Audit Committee met with Ernst & Young LLP, with and without management present, to discuss the results of their examinations, the evaluations of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting and the overall quality of the Company’s financial reporting.

Based on such review and discussions, the Audit Committee recommended to the Board that the audited consolidated financial statements for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 be included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, which is filed with the SEC. The Board approved this recommendation.

Audit Committee:

Winston W. Wilson, Chairman

Catherine D. Rice

Vernon B. Schwartz

John E. Westerfield

The report of the Audit Committee does not constitute “soliciting material” and will not be deemed “filed” or incorporated by reference into any of our filings under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act that might incorporate our SEC filings by reference, in whole or in part, notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth in those filings.

33

Independent Registered Public Account Firm’s Fees

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM’S FEES

INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

The Audit Committee of our Board has engaged EY as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm for the year ended December 31, 2019. EY has served as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm since its initial appointment in June 2017.

Aggregate fees billed and expected to be billed by EY for the fiscal years ended December 31, 2019 and 2018 were as follows (dollars in thousands):

All audit and audit-related services provided by EY in 2019 and 2018 were pre-approved by the Audit Committee, either pursuant to the Audit Committee’s Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy or through a separate pre-approval by the Audit Committee.

AUDIT COMMITTEE PRE-APPROVAL POLICY

The Audit Committee’s policy is to review and pre-approve, either pursuant to the Audit Committee’s Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy or through a separate pre-approval by the Audit Committee, any engagement of the Company’s independent auditor to provide any audit or permissible non-audit service to the Company. Pursuant to the Audit and Non-Audit Services Pre-Approval Policy, which will be reviewed and reassessed annually by the Audit Committee, a list of specific services within certain categories of services, including audit, audit-related, tax and other services, are specifically pre-approved for the upcoming or current fiscal year, subject to an aggregate maximum annual fee payable by the Company for each category of pre-approved services. Any service that is not included in the approved list of services must be separately pre-approved by the Audit Committee. In addition, all audit and permissible non-audit services in excess of the pre-approved fee level, whether or not included on the pre-approved list of services, must be separately pre-approved by the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee has delegated authority to its Chairman to specifically pre-approve engagements for the performance of audit and permissible non-audit services, provided that the estimated cost for such services shall not exceed $250,000. The Chairman must report all pre-approval decisions to the Audit Committee at its next scheduled meeting and provide a description of the terms of the engagement, including (1) the type of services covered by the engagement, (2) the dates the engagement is scheduled to commence and terminate, (3) the estimated fees payable by the Company pursuant to the engagement, (4) other material terms of the engagement, and (5) such other information as the Audit Committee may request.

34

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

THE COMBINATION

On January 31, 2018, the Company completed the transactions contemplated by that certain Master Combination Agreement, dated as of August 25, 2017, as amended and restated on November 20, 2017 (the “Combination Agreement”), by and among (i) the Company, (ii) the Operating Partnership, (iii) Colony Capital Operating Company, LLC (“CLNY OP”), a Delaware limited liability company and the operating company of Colony Capital, (iv) NRF RED REIT Corp., a Maryland corporation and indirect subsidiary of CLNY OP (“RED REIT”), (v) NorthStar Real Estate Income Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“NorthStar I”), (vi) NorthStar Real Estate Income Trust Operating Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the operating partnership of NorthStar I (“NorthStar I OP”), (vii) NorthStar Real Estate Income II, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“NorthStar II”), and (viii) NorthStar Real Estate Income Operating Partnership II, LP, a Delaware limited partnership and the operating partnership of NorthStar II (“NorthStar II OP”).

Pursuant to the Combination Agreement, (i) CLNY OP contributed and conveyed to the Company a select portfolio of assets and liabilities (the “CLNY Contributed Portfolio”) of CLNY OP (the “CLNY OP Contribution”), (ii) RED REIT contributed and conveyed to the OP a select portfolio of assets and liabilities of RED REIT (together with the CLNY OP Contribution, the “CLNY Contributions”), (iii) NorthStar I merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the merger (the “NorthStar I Merger”), (iv) NorthStar II merged with and into the Company, with the Company surviving the merger (the “NorthStar II Merger” and, together with the NorthStar I Merger, the “Mergers”), and (v) immediately following the Mergers, the Company contributed and conveyed to the OP the CLNY Contributed Portfolio and the equity interests of each of NorthStar I OP and NorthStar II OP then-owned by the Company in exchange for units of membership interest in the OP (the “Company Contribution” and, collectively with the Mergers and the CLNY Contributions, the “Combination”).

RELATED PERSON TRANSACTION POLICY

On January 30, 2018, our Board adopted a written related person transaction policy setting forth the policies and procedures for the review, approval or ratification of related person transactions. This policy covers, with certain exceptions set forth in Item 404 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, any financial transaction, arrangement or relationship, or any series of similar transactions, arrangements or relationships, in which we were or are to be a participant, where the amount involved exceeds $120,000 and a related person had or will have a direct or indirect material interest. Under the policy, related person transactions will be approved or ratified by the Audit Committee or a majority of the disinterested members of our Board. No investment by our Company will require approval solely because such investment constitutes a co-investment made by and between our Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and one or more investment vehicles formed, sponsored or managed by Colony Capital, on the other hand. Prior to January 30, 2018, we did not have a related person transaction policy because the Company was newly formed, did not conduct any operations and had not yet put in place such a policy.

INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENTS

On and since the Combination on January 31, 2018, we have entered into indemnification agreements with each of our executive officers and directors that obligate us to indemnify them to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. The indemnification agreements provide that if a director or executive officer is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any proceeding by reason of such director’s or executive officer’s status as our director, officer or employee, we must indemnify such director or executive officer for all expenses and liabilities actually and reasonably incurred by him or her, or on his or her behalf, unless it has been established that:

provided, however, that we will (i) have no obligation to indemnify such director or executive officer for a proceeding by or in the right of our Company, for expenses and liabilities actually and reasonably incurred by him or her, or on his or her behalf, if it has been adjudged that such director or executive officer is liable to us with respect to such proceeding and (ii) have no obligation to indemnify or advance expenses of such director or executive officer for a proceeding brought by such director or

35

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

executive officer against the Company, except for a proceeding brought to enforce indemnification under Section 2-418 of the MGCL or as otherwise provided by our charter or bylaws, a resolution of the Board of Directors or an agreement approved by the Board of Directors.

MANAGEMENT AGREEMENT WITH OUR MANAGER

On January 31, 2018, the Company and the OP entered into a management agreement with the Manager, as amended by that certain amended and restated management agreement on November 6, 2019 (the “Management Agreement”), pursuant to which the Manager manages the Company’s assets and its day-to-day operations. The Manager will be responsible for, among other matters, (1) the selection, origination, acquisition, management and sale of the Company’s portfolio investments, (2) the Company’s financing activities and (3) providing the Company with investment advisory services. The Manager is also responsible for the Company’s day-to-day operations and will perform (or will cause to be performed) such services and activities relating to the Company’s investments and business and affairs as may be appropriate. The Management Agreement requires the Manager to manage the Company’s business affairs in conformity with the investment guidelines and other policies that are approved and monitored by the Board. The Manager and its affiliates also provide the Company with a management team, including a chief executive officer, president and chief financial officer, which persons must be approved by the Board, and currently each of the Company’s executive officers is also an employee of the Manager or its affiliates. The Manager’s role as Manager will be under the supervision and direction of the Company’s Board.

The initial term of the Management Agreement expires on the third anniversary of the closing of the Mergers and will be automatically renewed for a one-year term each anniversary date thereafter unless earlier terminated as described below. The Company’s independent directors review the Manager’s performance and the fees that may be payable to the Manager annually and, following the initial term, the Management Agreement may be terminated if there has been an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the Company’s independent directors determining that (1) there has been unsatisfactory performance by the Manager that is materially detrimental to the Company or (2) the compensation payable to the Manager, in the form of base management fees and incentive fees taken as a whole, or the amount thereof, is not fair to the Company, subject to the Manager’s right to prevent such termination due to unfair fees by accepting reduced compensation as agreed to by at least two-thirds of the Company’s independent directors. The Company must provide the Manager 180 days’ prior written notice of any such termination.

The Company may also terminate the Management Agreement for cause (as defined in the Management Agreement) at any time, including during the initial term, without the payment of any termination fee, with at least 30 days’ prior written notice from the Company’s Board. Unless terminated for cause, the Manager will be paid a termination fee as described below. The Manager may terminate the Management Agreement if the Company becomes required to register as an investment company under the Investment Company Act with such termination deemed to occur immediately before such event, in which case the Company would not be required to pay a termination fee. The Manager may decline to renew the Management Agreement by providing the Company with 180 days’ prior written notice, in which case the Company would not be required to pay a termination fee. The Manager may also terminate the Management Agreement with at least 60 days’ prior written notice if the Company breaches the Management Agreement in any material respect or otherwise is unable to perform its obligations thereunder and the breach continues for a period of 30 days after written notice to the Company, in which case the Manager will be paid a termination fee as described below.

Fees to our Manager – Base Management Fee

The base management fee payable to the Manager is equal to 1.5% of the Company’s stockholders’ equity (as defined in the Management Agreement), per annum (0.375% per quarter), payable quarterly in arrears in cash. For purposes of calculating the base management fee, the Company’s stockholders’ equity means: (a) the sum of (1) the net proceeds received by the Company (or, without duplication, the Company’s direct subsidiaries, such as the OP) from all issuances of the Company’s or such subsidiaries’ common and preferred equity securities since inception (allocated on a pro rata basis for such issuances during the calendar quarter of any such issuance), plus (2) the Company’s cumulative core earnings (as defined in the Management Agreement) from and after the Closing Date to the end of the most recently completed calendar quarter, less (b)(1) any distributions to the Company’s common stockholders (or owners of common equity of the Company’s direct subsidiaries, such as the OP, other than the Company or any of such subsidiaries), (2) any amount that the Company or any of the Company’s direct subsidiaries, such as the OP, have paid to (x) repurchase for cash the Company’s common stock or common equity securities of such subsidiaries or (y) repurchase or redeem for cash the Company’s preferred equity securities or preferred equity securities of such subsidiaries, in each case since the Closing Date and (3) any incentive fee (as described below) paid to the Manager since the Closing Date.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, the total management fee expense incurred was $42.4 million. As of December 31, 2019 there was $8.4 million of unpaid management fee included in due to related party in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

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Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

Fees to our Manager – Incentive Fee

The incentive fee payable to the Manager is equal to the difference between (i) the product of (a) 20% and (b) the difference between (1) core earnings (as defined in the Management Agreement) for the most recent 12-month period (or the Closing Date if it has been less than 12 months since the Closing Date), including the current quarter, and (2) the product of (A) common equity (as defined in the Management Agreement) in the most recent 12-month period (or the Closing Date if it has been less than 12 months since the Closing Date), and (B) 7% per annum and (ii) the sum of any incentive fee paid to the Manager with respect to the first three calendar quarters of the most recent 12-month period (or the Closing Date if it has been less than 12 months since the Closing Date); provided, however, that no incentive fee is payable with respect to any calendar quarter unless core earnings (as defined in the Management Agreement) is greater than zero for the most recently completed 12 calendar quarters (or the Closing Date if it has been less than 12 calendar quarters since the Closing Date).

The Company did not incur any incentive fees during the year ended December 31, 2019.

Reimbursement of Expenses

Reimbursement of expenses related to the Company incurred by the Manager, including legal, accounting, financial, due diligence and other services are paid on the Company’s behalf by the OP or its designee(s). The Company reimburses the Manager for the Company’s allocable share of the salaries and other compensation of the Company’s chief financial officer and certain of its affiliates’ non-investment personnel who spend all or a portion of their time managing the Company’s affairs, and the Company’s share of such costs are based upon the percentage of such time devoted by personnel of our Manager (or its affiliates) to the Company’s affairs. The Company may be required to pay the Company’s pro rata portion of rent, telephone, utilities, office furniture, equipment, machinery and other office, internal and overhead expenses of the Manager and its affiliates required for the Company’s operations, including direct costs incurred for the benefit of certain portfolio investments owned by the Company.

For the year ended December 31, 2019, the total reimbursements of expenses incurred by the Manager on behalf of the Company and reimbursable in accordance with the Management Agreement was $11.1 million.

Termination Fee

We will be required to pay a termination fee equal to three (3) times the sum of (x) the average annual base management fee and (y) the average annual incentive fee, in each case earned by our Manager during the 24-month period immediately preceding the most recently completed calendar quarter prior to the date of termination. Additionally, upon termination of the Management Agreement for any reason, including for cause, we will be required to pay our Manager all accrued and unpaid fees and expense reimbursements earned prior to the date of termination.

Equity-Based Compensation to Our Manager

For services provided by or on behalf of our Manager for the benefit of the Company, in furtherance of recommendations received from our Chief Executive Officer, our Manager and outside compensation consultant, the Compensation Committee approved grants of restricted common stock to the Manager (and/or its employees) pursuant to the CLNC Incentive Plan, including an aggregate of 620,063 shares in March 2019. Pursuant to this approval, on March 15, 2019, the Company granted (a) 30,486 shares of restricted common stock, with a grant date value of $472,838, to Mr. Hedstrom, and (b) 14,001 shares of restricted common stock, with a grant date value of $217,156, to Mr. Witt, in each case, a director nominee, in connection with his services to the Manager with respect to the Company.

After evaluating Company performance through year end 2019, among other factors, the Compensation Committee has not approved any additional grants of restricted common stock to the Manager (and/or its employees) pursuant to the CLNC Incentive Plan.

In each instance, the Compensation Committee applied the principles set forth above in “Executive Compensation—Equity-Based Compensation” and our Manager evaluated the performance of, and thereafter granted such shares of restricted common stock to, certain employees of our Manager and its affiliates providing services for the benefit of our Manager and the Company. The restricted stock granted to our Manager as described herein generally vest in three substantially equal installments on each of the first three anniversaries of the grant date.

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Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT

In connection with the Combination, on January 31, 2018, the Company entered into a Stockholders Agreement with CLNY OP (the “Stockholders Agreement”). Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement, until the later of the two year anniversary of the closing of the Combination and the second annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, CLNY OP will cause its shares of common stock to be present for purposes of establishing a quorum of the stockholders at any meeting of stockholders of the Company and to cause its shares of common stock to be voted in favor of the director nominees recommended by the Board in the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A. The Stockholders Agreement also provides that, until the later of the two year anniversary of the closing of the Combination and the second annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, CLNY OP will not, and will cause its affiliates not to (each solely in its capacity as a Company stockholder), take any action to change the composition of the Board in a manner that results in the Board being comprised of less than a majority of independent directors. The Annual Meeting will be the second annual meeting since the closing of the Combination.

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

In connection with the closing of the Combination, on January 31, 2018, the Company entered into a registration rights agreement with CLNY OP and RED REIT (the “Registration Rights Agreement”). Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, the Company filed a registration statement on Form S-3 that (i) registers for resale the Class A common stock issued in the Combination and the Class A common stock issued upon the conversion of the Class B-3 common stock and (ii) registers the issuance or resale of the Class A common stock issued upon redemption of the OP Units issued in the Combination. Further, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, at the request of a holder, the Company must use commercially reasonable efforts to effect the sale of all or part of the registrable securities through an underwritten public offering under the applicable registration statement; provided, however, that such holders may not exercise such registration rights more than once in any consecutive 120-day period.

Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, CLNY OP and RED REIT are also entitled to receive notice of any proposed underwritten public offering for the Company’s own account or for another security holder. Such holders may request in writing within five business days following receipt of such notice to participate in any underwritten public offering; provided that if the number of shares of common stock as to which registration has been demanded exceeds the maximum number of shares that can be sold in such offering without adversely affecting its success, the shares of common stock requested by CLNY OP or RED REIT may be cutback from such underwritten public offering.

The Company is required to bear the registration expenses, other than underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, associated with any registration of shares by the holders. The Company also is required to indemnify each holder who includes registrable securities in any registration and any person who is or might be deemed a controlling person of such holder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against certain liabilities incurred in connection with the registration of such holder’s registrable securities.

The registration rights described above will terminate as to any stockholder at such time as all of such stockholder’s securities could be sold in a single calendar quarter without compliance with the registration requirements of the Securities Act pursuant to Rule 144.

TRADEMARK LICENSE AGREEMENT

On January 31, 2018, a subsidiary of our Company entered into license agreements with each of CLNY OP and Colony Capital, pursuant to which CLNY OP and Colony Capital granted us a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use the name and trademark “Colony”, and the logo for Colony Capital.

Each license agreement provides CLNY OP or Colony Capital, as applicable, with the right to terminate the applicable license agreement in the event that: (1) our Company becomes insolvent or admits its inability to pay its debts; (2) our Company becomes subject to any bankruptcy or insolvency proceeding; (3) our Company is dissolved or liquidated or takes any corporate action for such purpose; (4) our Company makes a general assignment for the benefit of creditors; (5) our Company has an agent appointed by a court to take charge of or sell any material portion of its property or business; or (6) any lawsuit or proceeding is commenced (or claim threatened) relating to the relevant marks or the relevant trademark license agreement. The license agreements automatically terminate (i) upon a change of control of our Company without the consent of CLNY OP or Colony Capital, as applicable, or (ii) in the event the Manager or one of its affiliates ceases to be the external manager of the Company for any reason. CLNY OP and Colony Capital also have the right to terminate the applicable license agreement without cause upon 120 days’ prior written notice.

38

Certain Relationships and Related Transactions

INVESTMENT ACTIVITY

All investment acquisitions are approved in accordance with the Company’s investment and related party guidelines, which may include approval by either the Audit Committee or disinterested members of the Company’s Board. No investment by the Company will require approval under the related party transaction policy solely because such investment constitutes a co-investment made by and between the Company and any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and one or more investment vehicles formed, sponsored, or managed by an affiliate of the Manager on the other hand.

In July 2017, NorthStar II entered into a joint venture with an affiliate of the Manager to make a $60.0 million investment in a $180.0 million mezzanine loan which was originated by such affiliate of the Manager. The transaction was approved by NorthStar II’s board of directors, including all of its independent directors. The investment was purchased by the Company in connection with the Combination. In June 2018, the Company increased its commitment to $101.8 million in connection with the joint venture bifurcating the mezzanine loan into a mezzanine loan and a preferred equity investment. The Company’s interest in both the underlying mezzanine loan and preferred equity investment was initially 31.8%, and the affiliate entities owned the remaining 68.2%. Both the underlying mezzanine loan and preferred equity investment carry a fixed 12.9% interest rate. This investment is recorded in investments in unconsolidated ventures in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets. In July 2019, the Company increased its commitment in the mezzanine loan from $101.8 million to $189.0 million. The Company’s interest in the upsized mezzanine loan is 45.2% and continues to carry a fixed 12.9% interest rate. As of December 31, 2019, the Company had an unfunded commitment of $48.9 million remaining.

In May 2018, the Company acquired an $89.1 million (at par) preferred equity investment in an investment vehicle that owns a seven-property office portfolio located in the New York metropolitan area from an affiliate of the Company’s Manager. The affiliate has a 27.2% ownership interest in the borrower. The preferred equity investment carries a fixed 12.0% interest rate. This investment is recorded in loans and preferred equity held for investment, net in the Company’s consolidated balance sheets.

In July 2018, the Company entered into a joint venture to invest in a development project for land and a Grade A office building in Ireland. The Company agreed to invest up to $69.9 million of the $139.7 million total commitment. The Company co-invested along with two affiliates of the Manager, with the Company owning 50.0% of the joint venture and the affiliate entities owning the remaining 50.0%. The joint venture invested in a senior mortgage loan of $66.7 million with a fixed interest rate of 12.5% and a maturity date of 3.5 years from origination and common equity.

In July 2018, the Company entered into a joint venture to invest in a development project for land and a Grade A office building in Ireland. The Company agreed to invest up to $69.9 million of the $139.7 million total commitment. The Company co-invested along with two affiliates of the Manager, with the Company owning 50.0% of the joint venture and the affiliate entities owning the remaining 50.0%. The joint venture invested in a senior mortgage loan of $66.7 million (with a fixed interest rate of 12.5% and a maturity date of 3.5 years from origination) and common equity.

39

Other Matters

OTHER MATTERS

STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS AND DIRECTOR NOMINATIONS FOR 2021

Proposals received from stockholders in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act are eligible for consideration for inclusion in the proxy statement for the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders if they are received by the General Counsel, in writing addressed to our principal executive office, on or before December 2, 2020.

Proposals received from stockholders submitted outside of Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or for a director nomination must comply with the advance notice and other requirements set forth in our bylaws in order to be presented at an annual meeting. These requirements currently include, in part, the requirement that any such proposal or nomination must, with certain exceptions if the date of the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders is advanced or delayed more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of this year’s Annual Meeting, be submitted to the Secretary of the Company at Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc., 590 Madison Avenue, 34^th Floor, New York, New York 10022 at least 120 and not more than 150 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of this year’s Proxy Statement (or, based on the date of this year’s Proxy Statement of April 1, 2020, between November 2, 2020 and 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on December 2, 2020).

STOCKHOLDER NOMINATIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS OF POTENTIAL CANDIDATES

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will consider written recommendations from stockholders of potential director candidates. Such recommendations should be submitted to the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in care of our General Counsel at Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc., 590 Madison Avenue, 34^th Floor, New York, New York 10022. Director recommendations submitted by stockholders must include, among other things, the following:

The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee expects to use a similar process to evaluate candidates to our Board recommended by stockholders as the one it uses to evaluate candidates otherwise identified by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee.

ANNUAL REPORT

A copy of our Annual Report for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 is being provided with these proxy materials to stockholders entitled to vote at the Annual Meeting. In addition, a copy of our Annual Report will be sent to any stockholder without charge (except for exhibits, if requested, for which a reasonable fee will be charged), upon written request to: Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc., 590 Madison Avenue, 34^th Floor, New York, New York 10022, Attn: General Counsel.

If you would like to receive future stockholder communications via the Internet exclusively, and no longer receive any material by mail, please visit http://www.astfinancial.com and click on “Login” to enroll. Please enter your account number and tax identification number to log in, then select “Receive Company Mailings via E-Mail” and provide your e-mail address.

HOUSEHOLDING OF PROXY MATERIALS

If you and other residents at your mailing address own common stock in street name, your broker or bank may have sent you a notice that your household will receive only one annual report and proxy statement for each company in which you hold shares through that broker or bank. This practice of sending only one copy of proxy materials is known as “householding.” If you did not respond that you did not want to participate in householding, you were deemed to have consented to the process. If the foregoing procedures apply to you, your broker has sent one copy of our annual report and proxy statement to your address. You may revoke your consent to householding at any time by sending your name, the name of your brokerage firm and your account number to Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc., 51 Mercedes Way, Edgewood, NY 11717.

40

Other Matters

WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

We make available free of charge through our website at www.clncredit.com under the heading “Shareholders—SEC Filings” the periodic reports and other information we file with the SEC, as required by the Exchange Act. Copies may also be accessed electronically by means of the SEC home page on the Internet, at www.sec.gov.

41

590 Madison Avenue, 34^th Floor

New York, New York 10022

www.clncredit.com

0 COLONY CREDIT REAL ESTATE, INC. Proxy for Annual Meeting of Stockholders on May 4, 2020 Solicited on Behalf of the Board of Directors The undersigned hereby appoints Neale W. Redington and David A. Palamé, and each of them, with full power of substitution and power to act alone, as proxies to vote all the shares of Common Stock which the undersigned would be entitled to vote if personally present and acting at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders of Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc., to be held May 4, 2020 at 8:30 A.M. EDT, at 590 Madison Avenue, Floor 34, New York, New York 10022, Broadway Conference Room, and at any adjournments or postponements thereof, and at the discretion of the proxies on any other matters that may properly come before the meeting. If specific voting instructions are not provided and the signed card is returned, the proxies will vote in accordance with the Board of Directors recommendations listed on the reverse side. (Continued and to be signed on the reverse side.) 1.1 14475

ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS OF COLONY CREDIT REAL ESTATE, INC. May 4, 2020 IMPORTANT NOTICE REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF PROXY MATERIALS FOR THE MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS TO BE HELD ON MAY 4, 2020. The Notice of Meeting, Proxy Statement and Proxy Card are available at http://www.astproxyportal.com/ast/CLNC Please sign, date and mail your proxy card in the envelope provided as soon as possible. Please detach along perforated line and mail in the envelope provided. 00003333333033000000 1 050420 THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS RECOMMEND A VOTE “FOR” ALL DIRECTOR NOMINEES IN PROPOSAL 1 AND “FOR” PROPOSAL 2 AND PROPOSAL 3. x PLEASE SIGN, DATE AND RETURN PROMPTLY IN THE ENCLOSED ENVELOPE. PLEASE MARK YOUR VOTE IN BLUE OR BLACK INK AS SHOWN HERE THIS PROXY WHEN PROPERLY EXECUTED WILL BE VOTED IN THE MANNER DIRECTED 1. To elect seven directors from the nominees named in the proxy statement to serve HEREIN. IF NO DIRECTION IS MADE THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR EACH OF one-year terms expiring at the 2021 annual meeting of stockholders. FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN PROPOSAL 1, PROPOSAL 2 AND PROPOSAL 3. Catherine D. Rice Vernon B. Schwartz John E. Westerfield Winston W. Wilson Mark M. Hedstrom Michael J. Mazzei Andrew E. Witt FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 2. Approval of an advisory proposal regarding the compensation paid to Colony Credit Real Estate, Inc.’s named executive officers (the “Say on Pay” proposal). FOR AGAINST ABSTAIN 3. Ratification of the appointment of Ernst & Young LLP as independent public auditor for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2020. 4. In their discretion, the proxies are authorized to vote upon such other business as may properly come before the meeting. To indicate change your the new address address on your in the account, address please space check above the . Please box at note right and that changes this method to the . registered name(s) on the account may not be submitted via Signature of Stockholder Date: Signature of Stockholder Date: Note: title Please as such sign .exactly If the signer as your is a name corporation, or names please appear sign on full this corporate Proxy. When name shares by duly are authorized held jointly, officer, each giving holder full should title as sign such . .When If signer signing is a as partnership, executor, please administrator, sign in attorney, partnership trustee name or by guardian, authorized please person give full .